Chinese tycoon Liu Yiqian breaks world auction record for HK$348.4m thangka
Auction sets record for Chinese work of art, which will be housed in Shanghai museum
Shanghai billionaire Liu Yiqian paid HK$348.4 million for a Tibetan tapestry at a Christie's auction yesterday, 10 times what it sold for a little over a decade ago and breaking the auction record for a Chinese work of art he set in April.
It was also a record for any Chinese work of art sold by an international auctioneer.
The pre-sale estimate was HK$80 million. The sale raged for 22 minutes at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai before Liu captured his prize with a telephone bid.
"I am proud to bring back to China this significant and historic 15th century 'thangka', which will be preserved in the Long Museum for years to come," Liu said.
The 600-year-old embroidered silk thangka, measuring 335.3cm x 213.4cm, was made in the Yongle period (1402-1424) during the Ming dynasty.
The Buddhist thangka depicts Raktayamari, the red Conqueror of Death, embracing his consort, Vajravetali, trampling Yama, the Lord of Death.